Window molding members and method of manufacturing same

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a molding member, for instance for automobile front window plates, as well as a method of manufacturing such molding members. The molding member has a lip section in the form of a ridge which extends throughout the entire length. The lip section bears against the surface of the window plate along the upper portion to realize a flush outer surface between the upper edge of the window plate and the body panel, but is spaced therefrom along the side portions to define a weir. The weir can be formed by deforming a predetermined location of the ridge, and prevents flow of the rain water across the molding member to preserve the driver's or passenger's sight through the window.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A window molding member adapted to be mounted on an exterior portion of an automobile and the like, comprising: a main body composed at least partly of a continuous elongate member, including an upper portion to extend along an upper edge of a window plate, at least one side portion to extend along a side edge of the window plate, and at least one corner portion integrally connecting said upper portion and said side portion with each other to provide a one-piece structure, the main body further including a ridge integrally formed along an entire length of said main body;   said ridge having a predetermined region presubjected to permanent plastic deformation to form a first cross-section along said upper portion of the main body, a second cross-section along said side portion of the main body, and a transitional cross-section substantially along said corner portion of the main body where the first cross-section gradually changes to the second cross-section, one of said first and second cross-sections defining at least one weir when the molding member is mounted in place, said weir extending along said upper portion or said side portion such that rain water can be guided along the weir and prevented from flowing across the molding member.   
     
     
       2. The window molding member as claimed in claim 1, wherein said main body is of extruded synthetic resin material. 
     
     
       3. The molding member as claimed in claim 1, wherein said man body has a core embedded therein, which is composed of a flexible metal strip. 
     
     
       4. The molding member as claimed in claim 3, wherein said core has in its cross-section at least one projection to extend toward said window plate. 
     
     
       5. The molding member as claimed in claim 4, wherein said main body has a curvature in its longitudinal direction, which corresponds to the contour of said window plate. 
     
     
       6. The molding member as claimed in claim 1, wherein said main body is provided with at least one spacer element to be arranged between said ridge and the surface of said window plate, for cooperating with said ridge to define said weir. 
     
     
       7. The molding member as claimed in claim 6, wherein said ridge has a surface adapted to be arranged opposite to the surface of said window plate, said surface of the ridge being formed with at least on slit which is engageable with said spacer element along said weir. 
     
     
       8. A method of manufacturing window moldings for automobiles and the like, said method comprising the steps of: forming a main body composed at least partly of a continuous elongate material, including an upper portion to extend along an upper edge of a window plate, at least one side portion to extend along a side edge of the window plate, and at least one corner portion integrally connecting said upper portion and said side portion with each other, the main body further having an integral ridge formed to extend over its entire length; and   plastically deforming a predetermined region of said ridge such that the ridge has a first cross-section along said upper portion of the mainbody, a second cross-section along said side portion of the main body, and a transitional cross-section substantially along said corner portion where the first cross-section gradually changes to the second cross-section, one of said first and second cross-sections defining at least one weir when the molding member is mounted in place, said weir extending along said upper portion or said side portion so that rain water can e guided along the weir and prevented from flowing across the molding member.